Solid-phase microextraction system

The final design presented shown in Figure 49.16d was a solid-phase microextraction system that performed the sample enrichment and cleanup with the packed microbead bed in an array chip format, offline, and using low pressure to aspirate the sample as well as the washing fluid through the chip (Figure 49.17). 

FIGURE 14.5 Schematic diagram of SPME-IMS system (1) needle guide (2) septum (3) T-connection connector (4) modified SRI GC liner (5) nut with punched septum (6) transfer line/desorber (7) PEEK union (8) IMS (9) power lead and clamps (10) thermocouple. FAIMS, field asymmetric IMS. PEEK, polyether ether ketone. (From Liu et al., A new thermal desorption solid-phase microextraction system for hand-held ion mobility spectrometry, Anal. Chim. Acta 2006, 559, 159-165. With permission.)... 

Liu, X. Nacosn, S. Grigoriev, A. Lynds, R Pawliszyn, J., A new thermal desorption solid-phase microextraction system for hand-held ion mohihty spectrometry. Anal. 

Principles and Characteristics As mentioned already (Section 3.5.2) solid-phase microextraction involves the use of a micro-fibre which is exposed to the analyte(s) for a prespecified time. GC-MS is an ideal detector after SPME extraction/injection for both qualitative and quantitative analysis. For SPME-GC analysis, the fibre is forced into the chromatography capillary injector, where the entire extraction is desorbed. A high linear flow-rate of the carrier gas along the fibre is essential to ensure complete desorption of the analytes. Because no solvent is injected, and the analytes are rapidly desorbed on to the column, minimum detection limits are improved and resolution is maintained. Online coupling of conventional fibre-based SPME coupled with GC is now becoming routine. Automated SPME takes the sample directly from bottle to gas chromatograph. Split/splitless, on-column and PTV injection are compatible with SPME. SPME can also be used very effectively for sample introduction to fast GC systems, provided that a dedicated injector is used for this purpose [69,70],... 

Miniaturisation of scientific instruments, following on from size reduction of electronic devices, has recently been hyped up in analytical chemistry (Tables 10.19 and 10.20). Typical examples of miniaturisation in sample preparation techniques are micro liquid-liquid extraction (in-vial extraction), ambient static headspace and disc cartridge SPE, solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE). A main driving force for miniaturisation is the possibility to use MS detection. Also, standard laboratory instrumentation such as GC, HPLC [88] and MS is being miniaturised. Miniaturisation of the LC system is compulsory, because the pressure to decrease solvent usage continues. Quite obviously, compact detectors, such as ECD, LIF, UV (and preferably also MS), are welcome. 

In the 1990s, Pawliszyn [3] developed a rapid, simple, and solvent-free extraction technique termed solid-phase microextraction. In this technique, a fused-silica fiber is coated with a polymer that allows for fast mass transfer—both in the adsorption and desorption of analytes. SPME coupled with GC/MS has been used to detect explosive residues in seawater and sediments from Hawaii [33]. Various fibers coated with carbowax/divinylbenzene, polydimethylsiloxane/divinylbenzene, and polyacrylate are used. The SPME devices are simply immersed into the water samples. The sediment samples are first sonicated with acetonitrile, evaporated, and reconstituted in water, and then sampled by SPME. The device is then inserted into the injection port of the GC/MS system and the analytes thermally desorbed from the fiber. Various... 

Gorecki, T. and PawUszyn, J. 1997, Eield-portable solid-phase microextraction/fast GC system for trace analysis. Field Anal. Chem. Tech. 1 227—284. 

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is effectively a miniamrised version of SPE. Instead of using a packed cartridge, a rod is typically used, which is coated with the stationary phase. This is dipped into a solution of the analyte and allowed to extract for a pre-determined period of time. After this incubation period, the rod is removed from the solution and may be inserted directly into the injection system of the GC or HPLC. All of these operations can be automated on an autosampler. Clearly, the success of this technique depends intimately on the affinity of the analyte for the stationary phase. Frost, Hussain and Raghani [34] used SPME with GC-FID to measure benzyl chloride and chloroethylmethyl ether (amongst other process impurities) in pharmaceutical preparations. 

Arthur and Pawliszyn introduced solid-phase microextraction (SPME) in 1990 as a solvent-free sampling technique that reduces the steps of extraction, cleanup, and concentration to a unique step. SPME utilizes a small segment of fused-silica fiber coated with a polymeric phase to extract the analytes from the sample and to introduce them into a chromatographic system. Initially, SPME was used to analyze pollutants in water - via direct extraction. Subsequently, SPME was applied to more complex matrixes, such as solid samples or biological fluids. With these types of samples, direct SPME is not recommended nevertheless, the headspace mode (HSSPME) is an effective alternative to extracting volatile and semivolatile compounds from complex matrixes. (Adapted from Llompart et ah, 2001)... 

Fig. 18.1 Systems used to absorb aroma compounds from samples for analytical purposes, a Traps loaded with various adsorbents [4]. b Solid-phase extraction (disk in a holder assembly) [5]. c Solid-phase microextraction (coated needle inserted in sample) [5]. d Twister (1 -cm length) [4]. (Courtesy of GERSTEL GmbH and Co. KG)...

Vaes, W. H. J., E. U. Ramos, C. Hamwijk, I. von Holsteijn, B. J. Balaauboer, W. Seinen, H. J. M. Verhaar, and J. L. M. Hermens, Solid phase microextraction as a tool to determine membrane/water partition coefficients and bioavailable concentrations in in vitro system , Chem. Res. Toxicol., 10, 1067-1072 (1997). 

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME). used as a sample introduction technique for high speed gc, utilizes small-diameter fused-silica fibers coated with polymeric stationary phase for sample extraction and concentration. SPME lias been utilized for determination of pollutants in aqueous solution by the adsorption of analyte onto stationary-phase coated fuscd-silica fibers, followed by thermal desorption in the injection system of a capillary gas chromatograph. Full automation can be achieved using an autosampler. 

Wennrich et al. [167] investigated the capabilities of coupling accelerated solvent extraction with water as the extraction solvent and solid-phase microextraction to determine chlorophenols in polluted soils. Subcritical water extraction was performed using a commercially available accelerated solvent extractor. This system solves the problem of the analytes partitioning back to the soil matrix, which can occur in straightforward subcritical water extraction because in the Wennrich et al. method [167] the aqueous phase and the soil are separated under the extraction conditions. 

Yang et al. [47,48,53,54] developed a HWG sensing system for liquid and soil analyses based on an extractive polymer membrane coated onto the inside of the HWG. The polymer coating performs a solid-phase microextraction of the analyte from the headspace of the sample and preconcentrates the analyte prior to IR analysis. 

The most sensitive method for CVAA has recently been reported by Wooten et al. (39) using solid-phase microextraction to concentrate the derivatized analyte. Urine, with added ammonium acetate buffer and PhAsO as an internal standard, was derivatized directly with 1,3-propanedithiol and the derivative concentrated on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber. Analysis was by automated GC/MS using SIM of the isotopic MH+ ions. An impressive detection limit of 7.4pg/ml was reported, using a benchtop GC/MS system. The method was validated using spiked human urine. 

The most useful method for solvent residue analysis is GC. It can be performed by direct injection technique, or by headspace, solid phase microextraction (SPME), or single-drop microextraction (SOME) techniques [96]. GC has high selectivity, good specificity, is easy to perform, and involves simple sample preparation. Modem capillary GC allows separation of many compounds, together with their identification and quantification [96]. GC uses different detector systems, which are presented in Table 8.7. 

Recently, the method of gas chromatographic solid-phase microextraction (GC-SPME) has been developed (308-310). This method uses fibers coated with various polymers to extract volatile compounds from a food system. The method can be used in solid, liquid, and gaseous systems. It is fairly easy to evaluate volatile compounds by this analysis and to maintain consistent conditions. 

Before any sample can be subjected to chromatography, some type of sample preparation is required, which can be as simple as filtration or an involved solid-phase extraction protocol. Sample preparation is that activity or those activities necessary to prepare a sample for analysis. The ultimate goal of sample preparation is to provide the component of interest in solution, free from interferences and at a concentration appropriate for detection. This entry will briefly discuss seven topic areas included in sample preparation standard methods, solid-phase extraction (SPE), matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD), solid-phase microextraction (SPME), microdialysis, ultraliltration (UF), and automated systems. 

Solid-phase microextraction is controlled by diffusion rates and partition effects. In typical quantitative analyses, for this technique to be reproducible, the extraction process should continue until the partitioning events reach equilibrium and all variables affecting the partitioning must be controlled. For a two-phase system, the extraction is dependent on the analyte s partition coefficient and the volumes of the solid phase and the water. In the headspace technique, equilibrium must be reached between all three phases the water, the vapor, and the solid phase. 

Heberer Th, Gramer S, Stan HJ (1999b) Occurrence and distribution of Organic contaminants in the aquatic system. Part III Determination of synthetic musks in Berlin surface water applying solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the full-scan mode. Acta Hydrochim Hydrobiol 21, 150-156. 

Eisert, R. and Levsen, K., Development of a prototype system for quasi-continuous analysis of organic contaminants in surface or sewage water based on inline coupling of solid-phase microextraction to gas chromatography, J. Chromatogr. A, 737, 59-65, 1996. 

The sample introduction system must be capable of introducing a known and variable volume of sample solution reproducibly into the pressurized mobile phase as a sharp plug without adversely affecting the efficiency of the column. The superiority of valve injection has been adequately demonstrated for this purpose and is now universally used in virtually all modern instruments for both manual and automated sample introduction systems [1,2,7,31,32]. Earlier approaches using septum-equipped injectors have passed into disuse for a several reasons, such as limited pressure capability, poor resealability, contamination of the mobile phase, disruption of the column packing, etc., but mainly because they were awkward and inconvenient to use compared with valves. For dilute sample solutions volume overload restricts the maximum sample volume that can be introduced onto the column without a dramatic loss of performance. On-column or precolumn sample focusing mechanisms can be exploited as a trace enrichment technique to enhance sample detectability. Solid-phase extraction and in-column solid-phase microextraction provide a convenient mechanism for isolation, concentration and matrix simplification that are easily interfaced to a liquid chromatograph for fully or semi-automated analysis of complex samples (section 5.3.2). 

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